Monday, 16 January 2012

Hampshire - 14-15.1.12

3 top class photos of the Spanish Sparrow (taken through bins and a double glazed window!)

A trip down to Hampshire hoping to see a few good year ticks and a possible lifer turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. The highlights on the first day was a Little Egret and a couple of Egyptian Geese. The Sunday proved more productive but only at last knockings. A very kind house owner opened up their house for us birders to view the back garden from the kitchen and living room. After a near 2 hour wait a flock of birds arrived to have a last feed before going to roost. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Starlings and even a female Reed Bunting turned up but the main bird suddenly appeared with around 40 House Sparrows. There in some brambles was the male SPANISH SPARROW. Only the 8th for UK it showed well on the small bird table and in a tree before feeding on the grass before being flushed along with the rest of the flock. Phew! I then popped into the Spanish Sparrow cafe (the Calshot community centre!) and enjoyed 2 bacon rolls that kept me going for the drive home.

About Me

Born and bred in Watford,Herts, I started birding when I was just 8 years old because the old next door neighbours garden was very overgrown and attracted birds to his and our gardens! I first went to the Watford RSPB group at 15 and then I joined the Herts Bird Club in the same year. I was on the Herts Bird Club committee for 3 years. I started twitching in September 2001 after i'd bought my RBA pager and within a week of owning it i'd added Red-Necked Stint and American Green Heron! I keep 2 main lists which can be seen above.